Move Over Chokers, These Are the Bijoux of Summer

Rebecca de Ravenel has a story book background—growing up, de Ravenel split time between Paris and the Bahamas, had a successful career in interior design, and just last year launched an eponymous jewelry brand that's currently going viral. The stars of the brand are Les Bonbons—playful, pretty earrings that are named for candy and share some of its qualities. They come in a variety of colors—some with sparkle—but also sell out in plain black and white quicker than e-comm sites like ShopBAZAAR, Moda Operandi and The Line can post them. They're the light and airy cherry on top for magpies who think more is more and a bold complement to streamlined minimalist looks. They work just as well for black tie as they do at a beachside cabana—and it's that inherent versatility that makes their appeal so wide. BAZAAR.com chatted with de Ravenel, who is just as charming as her designs. Get to know this island girl, and see what comes after bonbons—if you can get your hands on a pair.

You have such a cool background—what was it like splitting time between Paris and the Bahamas?

Thank you! I have to say, I was pretty lucky growing up into a sort of idyllic yet completely polar opposite places.

And how do you think both of those places influence the way that you design?

Well, Paris is no longer home and has no longer been home for a while. My parents moved to the Bahamas full time a couple years ago and I was living there full time, so the Bahamas to me is definitely very, very much home. Island life is very much part of my everyday life because, you know, the easy, breezy, comfortable, fun aspect of dressing is very important to me. But, in Paris, I grew up, thankfully, seeing really beautiful women who really took care of themselves. I don't know how to explain it. In the Bahamas, there's the glamour of the caftan and sort of old '70s look. And in Paris it's very much city life. So they go hand and hand but in some ways they don't really.

The earrings themselves really translate to so many different places—like for a black tie wedding or laidback vacation. Was it important to you that they be very versatile?

Well, yes! The Line shot them for an exclusive recently. It's very graphic and very classic and I love that! And it seems very modern and fresh. Whereas, you know, I've seen girls wear them on the beach on their honeymoons, so they're extremely versatile which is, I think, the reason that they've done so well—everyone can wear them.

How did you get started when you launched last year?

The first earrings I ever made, I did make them for myself. Then I must've sold 12 pairs to Aerin Lauder, I didn't even have my packaging, I had a little white box I bought at The Container Store and didn't have a sticker made. I think I sold her 12 pairs. I started wearing them out—It's funny, the thing is that people want to touch them. And that men want to touch them and talk to me about them and women sort of say "oh my god can I have them?" I've never had a reaction to anything like that before.

What's the secret to how light they are?

Well, I mean, I don't know if you're a big earring wearing kind of girl but you know my earrings always ended up on the dinner table!

I end up sending so many back because of it!

I wanted something to really move as well and that comes from lightness. I thought, oh my god, how amazing would it be if we could have little ping pong balls? So it sort of, you know, I know saying a ping pong ball is not chic, but it is really how the idea came up—and wrapping them in silk thread.

Did the idea of adding the embellishment come later?

I mean, I'm a girl, I always want a sparkle!

What's been the best part about launching this brand?

You know what I love the most, and I was talking about them this weekend with a friend at a dinner, and anyone who ever talks about them is always smiling when they talk about it, which is very much what I'm about because I'm always laughing and, I love that ! They actually just make people happy.

So you still also do interior design on top of this?

You know, I stopped working for Mark Sikes, who I was working for, because the bonbons took on a life of their own. I still very much do interiors for myself and help friends. But the bonbons have become a full time job.

Rebecca de Ravenel

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

This commenting section is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. You may be able to find more information on their web site.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Harper's BAZAAR participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.